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Write a note on characterisation of Jane Austen with special reference to Pride and Prejudice

How far is it correct that Jane Austen’s women are more searching and life-like than her men ? Discuss with special reference to ‘Pride and Prejudice

Characterization is an art and a key function of a drama or a novel. Jane Austen has used this very tactfully and artfully for her novels. Characterization of Jane Austen may be observed as follows –

1. Observation : Jane Austen is a minute observer. Though she did not have any keen insight into human character, yet she was perfectly acquainted with her matter and never, even once, attempted what she did not known closely, Jane Austen was gifted with the talent of observation. She could, therefore, create illusion of reality. The charm and merit of her novels lie in the fine impartiality with which she individualizes and differentiates her characters. Although there are many characters of the same type but no two characters are alike. She never repeats a character. Her characters are individual as well as universal.

2. Variety and Vitality: There is abundance and vitality in her characters. In the skill of protrature, Macaulay compares her with Shakespeare. Her characters form a nice picture gallery. Her canvas is narrow but there is a great variety. Her characters drawn from the upper middle class or landed gentry. She throws a flood light on her character and reveals them through little things like homely activity. This shows the variety of creation and their universal appeal.

3. Characterization: Jane Austen has an eye for surface personality the habit, the dress, the appearance, the tricks of speech, whims and caprice. etc. Her discriminatory vision penetrates to the organic principles of personality and thus discerns motives and causes of conduct. Jane Austen draws her characters from real life, so they are alive and real. They are not superman or super woman, but mixtures of good and evil. They are for this reason complex and many sided. Her virtuous characters have faults as an integral part of their nature and virtues result in fault.

4. Sense of Humour: Cultured and keen sense of humour of Jane Austen touches and illuminates her characters. Even the vulgar fools and bores are transported into amusing characters by her sense of humour. Her minor and insignificant character are flat but major characters are round and they change or develop according to the circumstances. The characters of Pride and Prjudice’ are fine example of her humour.

5. Female Characters: Being an expert of characterization, Jane Austen has produced excellent characters. But, there is no hesitation to say that her female characters are better drawn. It is obvious because she knew men through eyes of woman. She was not conversant with the exclusively male conversations or activities. Due to this reason, she has painted very complex and innumerable female characters whereas the variety among male characters is limited. The personalities of male characters are fragmentary. In all her novels, women are witty, discerning sensible and charming and entire action of the novel revolves around them and is presented from their point of view.

6. Character Delineation: Jane Austen develops her characters through dramatic method mostly. She develops and reveals her characters through dialogues. What her characters say about others, comment on different persons, situations, their thought processes etc. and also what others say about them. Thus, she examines her characters through different angles and points of view. Soliloquies are also used to reveal the intellectual process of the characters.

7. Absurdity: Jane Austen is much interested with follies and non-sense. Whims and iconsistencies and she satirises and ridicules these. But she never ridicules or satiries what is wise, witty and good. She encounters and presents follies and non-sense, whims and inconsistencies and absurdities. But she never exaggerates them. Like a true humourist, she takes delight in ridiculing the absured aspect of character like Collins, Mrs. Bennet, Lady De Durgh etc. These characters are depicted with profound interest to expose their follies.

8. Objectivity and Detachment: Jane Austen has a very clear concept about objectivity and detachment in characterization. She is not obsessed with anything in particular, although, she is interested in many things and she is amused with most of the things But she feels no anger when things are not to her liking. She dismisses with smile of contempt those to whom she does not like. She does not rage or rail at them as Fielding does. She was a pure and simple artist because she has objectivity and detachement which are so rare among novelists. She is free from personal prejudices preferences and predictions. We do not find any propaganda, preaching or philosophy of her. We find a true and very faithful picture of early eighteenth century country life in her novel.

9. Sense of Comedy: We do not come across rip-roaring or boisterous laughter in her novels. We get a gentle rippling sense of a pleasure of which is more lasting. Her humour is quite delicate and ironical. Almost all her scene have some touch of humur in them. Some of the examples of her comic may be seen in fear of ghosts in ‘Northanger Abbey’, private theatricals in ‘Mansfield Park’, a picnic in Emma’ or a proposal in Persuation’. But she always remains restrained and balanced.